Information published on 19 March 2019 in the UIC electronic newsletter "UIC eNews"
Nr 638.

UIC is pleased to organise a Global Event on Freight & Logistics together with Latvian Railways in Riga in 2020

All the actors will discuss the challenges of adequately positioning freight within the global chain of mobility

Corridors

Freight

Cooperation

Logistics

Mobility

Promoting

Railway Event

On the occasion of the European Management Committee of the UIC organised in Riga and at the kind invitation of Latvian Railways (LDz), Mr Edvīns Bērziņš, Chairman of the Board, President of SJSC “Latvijas dzelzceļš” (Latvian Railways) and Mr Jean-Pierre Loubinoux, Director General of UIC, were pleased to announce that the next Global event on Freight and Logistics would be held in the second half of 2020 in Riga, Latvia.

“This global event will offer a natural continuation to the themes addressed at previous global freight events such as transcontinental corridor development, smart technology to improve reliability and productivity, connectivity and hub development, and will also be a unique opportunity to engage in business discussions on the challenges of adequately positioning freight within the global chain of mobility”, they said.

With new routes being developed, with impressive projects such as Rail Baltica, the management of interfaces to ensure the sector collectively moves towards a high performing transport system ensuring optimal mix for a sustainable society is paramount.

UIC, as the global railway organisation, is particularly committed to support the development of such concepts which will drive towards the implementation of a Sustainable International Connected Integrated Chain of Mobility (SICICOM) with rail as its backbone.

“These concrete projects driven by Latvian Railways and its positioning clearly highlight this vision. LDz has already developed good and professional cooperation with UIC. We appreciate the company`s participation in the UIC platform by organising various events and conferences in cooperation with UIC – this is why we are sure the event in Riga in 2020 will be in great of value in terms of organisation and in terms of future business,” said UIC Director General Jean Pierre Loubinoux. He added: “This global event is part of UIC’s approach to put rail as the backbone of the Sustainable International Connected Integrated Chain of Mobility. The projects and the position of LDz embody this vision”.

François Davenne UIC Deputy Director General, added that “the special role of Latvian Railways to bridge the 1520 and 1435 [mm – track gauge] worlds is also particularly important in building smart corridors at the continental scale. We are convinced that this global event will bring specific response to questions such as how gather, organise and operate rail data for creating profitable services.”

President of the Latvian Railways Mr Edvīns Bērziņš highlighted: “The transportation industry and especially the rail freight sector in the near future will be facing new challenges that can only be overcome by integrating all the parties and stakeholders. Rail freight has no borders – freight has to be transported despite the different gauges and systems. Our common goal is to make railway transport more competitive and this can be achieved by increasing multimodality, sustainability and balanced cooperation. That is why we need the common perspective on our future and this event is great platform to create it.”